174 BRADSTREET'S ARMY ON THE LAKES. [1764, Aug. 



ble at the fort. " And now, my brother," said a 

 warrior, as the council was about to break up, " we 

 beg that you will tell us where we can find some 

 rum to comfort us ; for it is long since we have 

 tasted any, and we are very thirsty.-' This honest 

 request was not refused. The liquor was dis- 

 tributed, and a more copious supply promised for 

 the future ; upon which the deputation departed, 

 and repaired to their encampment, much pleased 

 with their reception.^ 



Throughout these conferences, one point of pol- 

 icy was constantly adhered to. No general council 

 was held. Separate treaties were made, in order 

 to promote mutual jealousies and rivalries, and dis- 

 courage the feeling of union, and of a common 

 cause among the widely scattered tribes. Johnson 

 at length completed his task, and, on the sixth of 

 August, set sail for Oswego. The march of the 

 army had hitherto been delayed by rumors of hos- 

 tile designs on the part of the Indians, who, it was 

 said, had formed a scheme for attacking Fort Niag- 

 ara, as soon as the troops should have left the 

 ground. Now, however, when the concourse was 

 melting away, and the tribes departing for their 

 distant homes, it was thought that the danger was 

 past, and that the army might safely resume its 

 progress. They advanced, accordingly, to Fort 

 Schlosser, above the cataract, whither their boats 

 and bateaux had been sent before them, craned up 



1 MS. Johnson Papers. MS. Minutes of Coj}ference loith the chiefs and 

 warriors of the Ottawas and Menomonies at Fort Niagara, July 20, 1764. The 

 extracts given above are copied verbatim from the original record. 



